LAHORE-Access tunnel of Mohmand Dam for swift excavation of diversion tunnels has been completed, while construction work is in progress simultaneously on nine different sites of the project.
This was briefed to Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Chairman Lt Gen (r) Muzammil Hussain during his visit to the project. Mohmand Dam Project Director and General Manager Muhammad Javed Afridi, Security and Land Acquisition & Resettlement Director General Brigadier Imtiaz Hussain, representatives of the consultants and the contractors were also present on the occasion.
It was informed that excavation work on main dam, spillway, power intake, diversion tunnels and re-regulation pond is under way in addition to construction work on irrigation tunnel, access roads, project colony and offices. The bailey bridge across River Swat is also being constructed for mobilization of construction machinery, workforce and equipment on both banks of the river.
WAPDA chairman said that Mohmand Dam, like all other water and hydropower projects, is instrumental for economic stability of Pakistan and social development in the country, Khyber Pakhtunknwa in particular, therefore, timely completion of this project is of paramount importance. He directed the project management to gear up their efforts the purpose.
Mohmand Dam is being constructed on River Swat, upstream of Munda Headworks in Tribal District Mohmand of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is the 5th highest concrete-face-rock-fill Dam (CFRD) in the world. On completion, the dam will store about 1.2-million-acre feet (MAF) of water and help mitigate floods in Peshawar, Charsadda and Naushera. Besides supplementing 160,000 acres of existing land, about 18,237 acres of new land will also be irrigated. Mohmand Dam Power House will generate 800 megawatts (MW) hydel electricity, contributing 2.86 billion units of low-cost and environment friendly hydel electricity annually to the national grid. In addition, 300 million gallons water per day will also be provided to Peshawar for drinking purpose. Annual benefits of the project have been estimated at Rs. 51.6 billion.
The progress and prosperity of the locals residing in the project area is one of the top most priorities. Hence, a hefty amount of Rs. 4.53 billion will be spent on Confidence Building Measures for socio-economic development in the project area.